Focusing device



C. E. GODLEY FocUsING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 22 1925 Oct. 12 192s. 1,602,898

C. E. GODLEY FOCUSING DEVICE Filed April 22l 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Pai-@med 0er. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. GODLEY, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO EDMUNDS & 'JONES COR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A OORPORATON OF NEW YORK.

My invention relates to devices for supporting and focusing lamp bulbs with respect to reflectors, and in general aims to provide a focusing device which will readily 5 permit adjustments to be made not only longitudinally of the axis of the reflector and in any direction transversely of the FOCUSING DEVICE.

Application led April 22, 1925.

said axis, but also rotationally of this axis.

Moreover, my invention aims to provide a cheaply manufactured pose which can easily device for this purbe attached to a rewill frictionally hold the lamp socket in any adjusted position when the clamping lscrews are slackened.

In modern automobile headlights, it is highly desirable that the reflector should spread the light to a cus of the reflector.

means which interlock bulb with the socket.

justing means are needed for shifting the greater extent laterthe base of the lamp Consequently, ad-

lainp socket with respect to the reflector, both for moving the filament of the lamp forwardly and reaii'wardly of the reflector and for shifting the position of the filament transversely of' the axis of the reflector to make the adjustment needed in case the filament is disposed at one side of the axis of Moreover, while .standard the lamp base.

lamp bulbs are assumed to havel the two legs of .each filament disposed in a plane which is in a definite position with respect to the socket-engaging pins on the base of the lamp bulb, this relation is not accurately maintained in the lamp bulbs as available Consequently, such lamp bulbs will not always dispose their filaments in the` most effective plane for accomplishing the desired light distribution, unless the lamp bulbv is suitably rotated to ovei'come the deviation from the proper position of the lamp filamentwith respect to the socket- Hence, an adequate Afocusing device for use with modern headlainps should also provide means for rotationally adjusting the position of the socket which on the market.

engaging' pins.

carries the lamp bulb.

Serial No. 25,081.

My present invention provides a focusing device which will readily accomplish this .rotational adjusting as well as the adjustments usually provided for moving the lamp bulb longitudinally and transversely of the reflector. It also provides an arrangement for this purpose in which these several adjustments will not interfere with eachother, in which a compact lamp socket forms an integral part of the focusing' device, and provides a construction which may readily be disassembled.

More particularly.y my invention provides a focusing socket which will enable the adjustment longitudinally of the reflector to be made by manipulating a single nut, which will enable both the rotational adjustment and the transverse shifting adjustments to be made by the simple shifting of a bodily movable shifting member and which will frictionally hold the parts in their adjusted positions until the clamping screws are tightened. StillV other and also more detailed objects ofmy invention will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a central and longitudinal section through a focusing device embodying my invention, showing this as attached to the rear of a reflector and to a supporting bracket for the latter.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the focusing device of Fig.` 1 drawn on a reduced scale, showing the various parts of this device in their medial positions.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and drawn on the same scale as Fig. 2, and .showing the shifting member as having been moved rotationally from the medial position of Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the clamping plate of the shifting member of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lamp socket, with a portion cut away to show the extent of one of the slots which interlocks with a projection on the shifting plate which forms part oil' the shifting member of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a reduced perspective view of the lshifting plate.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. l showing another embodiment of my invention, namely one in which a pair of washers are substituted for parts of the clamping plate of Figs. l and and in which the flange on the socket is disposed between the shift ing plate and an annular flange riveted to this shifting plate.

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. l, showing still another embodiment of my invention, namely one employing interengaging nub` and recess formations in the tw'o plates comprising the shifting member, and onein which the friction spring is disposed outside of the nut which effects the longitudinal adjustment of the socket.

Fig. is a rear elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 9.

Fig. ll is a rear elevation of the clamping plate of the embodiment of Fig. 9.

Fig. l2 is perspective view of the spring` used in the embodiment of F ig. 9.

ln the embodiment of Figs. l to 7 inclusive, my 'focusing device includes a supporting member comprising a flat main portion l positioned for clamping a supporting bracket 22 against the back of a retiector 2 together with a tubular portion 3 entending through alined apertures in the reflector and in the said backet, this tubular portion having its forward. end spun over the interior of the reflector so as to secure the supporting member rigidly to the said reflectorl and bracket.

Bearing against the back of the main por tion l of the supporting member is a shifting` plate ai: which desirably is provided with at least one handle 5 to facilitate its manipulation. rfhis shifting plate lhas a central aperture slidably fitting the tubular shell of lamp socket, while the tubular portion 3 of the supporting meml er has a bore of considerable larger diameter', so that the forward end of vthe socket can project through this tubular portion with freedom for lateral movement in all directions. rlhe socket is here shown as including the said tubular shell together with an apertured rear end (i through which a circuit wire 7 extends, and the forward end of this wire T is shown as connected directly to a tack having a head 8 which forms acontact enthe axial base terminal 9 of the lamp bulb l0.

rlhe shell 35 of the socket is provided with the usual bayonet catch formations 26 for interlocking with lateral pins Q3 on the lamp base, while an insulating washer 1l and a spring l2 are interposed between the tack head 8 and the rear end 6 of the socket so as to press this contact continuously against the base terminal 9 of the lamp bulb.

The socket shell is also provided at each side with a longitudinal slot ll which is slidably entered by a projection l2 on the shifting plate d, thereby inte'locking this plate with the socket so that the socket and lamp will be `rotated whenever rotational movement is imparted to the shifting plate. rlhe extent of this rotation is desirably limited by providing suitable coacting means associated with this plate and with the supporting member. For thisY purpose I desirably utilize the shanks of two-clamping screws which extend through alined perforations let in both the shifting plate t and a clamping plate l5 disposed behind and bearing against the shifting plate, the said perforations being considerably larger than the diameters of the screw s anks which extend through them.

To allow for a longitudinal adjustment of the lamp socket with respect to the shift ing plate, l do not fasten the socket direct to the latter, but employ a nut 1G threaded on the exterior of the socket and having an outwardly directed tlange l? which is inten posed between portions of the shifting and clamping plates. l also employ spring .means for continuously pressing this flange against one of the plates liietween which it interposed and desirab y arrange these spring means in such a manner that they will also take up any backlash in the threaded connection between the nut and the socket. For this combined purpose, Fig, l shows a compression spring 1S disposed within the nut. rllhis spring bears forwardly against the shifting plate and rearwardly against a part of the lamp socket, the latter being desirably grooved for that purpose so as to permit the use of a` relatively long spring.

The portion of the clamping plate against which the nut bears is desirably in the form of a raised ring 19 affording an annular shoulder which engages he outer edge of the nut and hence maintains the clamping plate conceit tric with the nut and the socket, While the engagement of the socket shell portion 35 with the perforation 2st in the clamping plate holds this latter plate concentric with the socket and nut. To prevent relative movement of the clan'ipimq` and shifting plates rotationally of the axis of the' socket, l provide interengaging formations on the two plates, for which purpose may provide tie shifting plate with rearwardly directed lateral flanges 25 engaging the lateral edges of the clamping plate. To permit the use of screws having' relatively small heads, l dispose a washer 2G between each screw head and the clamping plate, this w; eher in each case being larger in diameterthan the width the perforation Ll radially of the clampplate, and l preferably also interpose a spring washer I! between the washer 2o' and the. adjacent screw head to prevention accidental loosening of the screw.

`With the focusing device thus constructed, a rotating of the nut 1G will move the socket and lamp bulb along the axis of the reflector so as to effect the desired adjustment along that axis, and the spring 18 by pressing the flange. 17 of the nut continually against the raised Iportion 19 ofthe clamping member holds the nut frictionally locked against rotation. Vhen the clamping screws 13 are slightly relaxed, the spring 18 also operates through the said engagement of the flange 17 with the clamping plate, and through the engagement of the latter with the adjacent washer, for frictionally holding the shifting plate and the clamping plate against accidental movement. However, these two plates (which together form the shifting member of my device in this embodiment) can then be freely moved either rotationallyabout the axis of the reflector, or in any direction transverse of that axis within the range of movement permitted by the size of and held together by the action of the clamping means, I permit my focusing device to be disassembled when desired. However, I do not wish to be limited to this arrangement, nor to the various details'of construction and arrangement above described, it being obvious thatl many changes might be made without departing either from .the spirit of my invention or from the appended claims.

For example, Fig. 8 shows another embodiment in which theflange 17 of the nut is permanently retained in operative relation to the shifting plate 4 by an annular member 28 which is secured to the shifting plate by rivets 29, and in which the washers 26 bear directly against the rear face of the shifting plate.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment in which the handles 5 on the shifting plate are directed rearwardly, and in which the clamping plate- 15B is shortened so that the clamping screws 13B extend through recesses open at the ends of this member. It also shows the interengaging formations on the shifting plate and the clamping plate as comprising a nub 30 on the former extending into an adjacent perforation 31 in the clamping plate, and shows a .single-piece presser plate 32 as substituted for the separate washers 26 employed in the embodiments of Fig.4 1 and Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 also shows another arrangement of the friction-producing means which hold the shifting member against accidental movement when the clamping screws arek relaxed, namely an annular spring 33 interposed beltween the flange on the nut and a portion of the clamping plate, and shows the socket as kcomprising a simple cylindrical shell 35B having a contracted rear end 6B.

VWith each of these embodiments, it will be. noted that the various parts of the shifting member and of the clamping means comprise simple punchings in addition to the screws, and that the parts are easily assembled'. It will also. be noted that the vmanipulation of the device is exceedingly simple, as the position of the rear end of the socket with respect to the nut readily indicates the forward or rearward movement of the filament, while the transverse or rotational movement of the shifting member can be seen from the rearofl the device byl noting the relative position of the nut with respect to other parts.

` However, while I have illustrated and described my device as used in connection with t" the reflector of an automobile headlamp, I do not wish to be limited to this particular employment of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A focusing device comprising a supporting member having an aperture therein; a shifting member engaging the baci: of the supporting member and having an aperture smaller than the aperture in the supporting memaber; alamp socket extending through both apertures and interlocked with the shifting member to prevent rotation of 'the socket, anut swiveled upon the shiftin g member and threaded on the socket; and threaded means normally clamping the shifting` member against the supporting member, the shifting member having` an opening through which the threaded means extend and the said opening being larger i than the portion of the threaded means extending through it, `so as to permit a lateral shifting of the shifting member with respect to the supporting member when the threaded means are relaxed.

2. A focusing device comprising a supporting member having an aperture therein, a shifting plate engaging the supporting member and having an aperture smaller than the aperture in the supporting mem ber, a lamp socket having a shell extendin through both apertures and slidably fitting the aperture in the shifting plate, a clamping plate engaging the back of the shifting plate; a nut threaded on the socket shell and having a portion disposed between the said two plates to limit longitudinal movement of the nut with respect to the said plate-s; the shifting and clamping plates havingtwo pairs of alined openings respectively opposite sides yof the nut and having means associated with the said plates for preventing relative sliding thereof, Vand a pair of threaded members connecting the clamping plate with the supporting member and normally clamping the shifting plate between the clampingl plate and the supporting meinber, each ot the said threaded members having a portion extending through one pair of the said alined openings and smaller than the Said openings.

3. A focusing device as per claim 2, in combination with a spring` operatively interposed between the nut and one ot the said plates for deterring a sliding of the said platesivith respect to the supporting` member when the threaded means are loosened.

i. ln a focusing device, a supporting member having a perforation therein, a shitting member engaging the supporting member and having' a rel tivel57 smaller perforation alining substantially with the perforation in the supportingl member, a lamp soelret extending slidably through the said smaller perforation in the shifting member, a nut threaded on the socket and sivifeled on the shitting member, the supp member and the shifting tivo pairs oi alined openingj opposite sides of the socket shell; threaded leans respectively extending through the said pairs oi: alined openings for normally clamping the shitting' meinber 'to the supporting member, the sa' :l openings in one of the said members being` larger than the parts of the threaded means which extend through these perforations so as to permit n'iovement of the shitting; mein-be transversely olf the socket with respect to the Supportingl n inber when the tareaded means are relaxed.

5. A focusing device as per claim 4, in which the shitting member comprises an inner plate having the said smaller perforation and an outer plate having an annular portion offset from it to afford a space between the two plates, the nut having a Vradial flange disposed in the said space and adapted to be clamped between the saie annular portion and the inner plate.

G. A device for focusing a lamp ivithre- Spect to a retlector, coniprising` a supporting` member tat on the reflector and liaingg an aperture, a lamp soc-liet li ving a shellv smaller than the aperture and extending through the same; a shifting` plate supporting` the socxet and through which the socket shell extends slidably, the socketbeing inter loelred with the shitting plate against rela tive rotational niovement about the anis of the soc ret shell; manually releasable pressure means for clamping, the shifting plate to the supporting` ni'einber to prevent relative movement thereof, and spring means operatively interposed between the socket shell and the shifting plate for releasing` the said clampingl upon a relaxing oli' the pressure means and for preventing lost motion in the pressure means.

'7.1i focusing device comprising a stationary support, a shitting member lfiearing against the support, a nut sWivele-d ou the shifting member, relanable means for clamping the shifting member to the support, soclet e. readed into the nut and spiined to the 'shitting member, and neans interposed between the socket and the shitting meu 1er for frictionally resisting movement oi the shitting member with respect to the support when the relaxable means are relaxed.

Signed at Detroit, Michigan, April 17th, 1925.

CHARLES E. GODLET. 

